Sunday, April 28, 2013

I give
you a new Commandment, --that you love one another as I have loved
you.Today's gospel again boils down to the topic of love.Jesus reminds
us today that His love is the hallmark of a Christian. He gives us a new
Commandment which itself is the pattern of love.

But is
this something new? No not really. We have not heard one sermon about this,
because we have life experiences in this matter.Now, when we look again at
these words we find that our love is to be the pattern of Christ's love. Love
one another as I have loved you.

So we can ask what's new?

Surely the
people before Christ had love. They gave their lives for others,
dedicated their lives.

Not
only Christ taught us to love our fellow man.

We also know how to love today.
We love those who are related to us by blood and friendship. We love those who
are friendly to us, who have reached out their hands to us in moments when we
needed them. We do not need to learn about love from the Gospel. But usually
our love is conditional, often sentimental like the movies.

The news of this Commandment is that Christ died out of love for all.

The
enemies and the friends.

For
those who have lived and for those who have just begun their lives. Jesus loves
every person unconditionally. Our love is conditional and, unfortunately, often
sentimental.With this Commandment, thanks to the unfathomable love of
Christ for us, His death gave us the seed of a new love.

So we have a duty
to love every human being. Of course, it will never be an emotional love as
with loved ones but to love others is to wish them the things we expect from
life. Love of neighbor, is primarily a desire for their good, an ordinary human
kindness, respect, honesty to our fellow man.

We
need to know that this new and unconditional love, will cost us a lot. It will
now hurt and often not be understood by others. But through many tribulations
we must enter the kingdom of God.

We
read in the Acts of the Apostles...

Let us
love each other, our first task, the hallmark of our Christianity. With love we
do the simplest daily activities.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

My
sheep listen to My voice, and I know them. They follow Me and I give them
eternal life.

The readings today show us what it means that Jesus is our
shepherd, but they also reveal the truth of what it means to be a sheep and
how to look like a man for whom Jesus is the guide.

First of all, people
who decide to follow the Shepherd and obey His voice must know that they may be
crticized, ridiculed, judged and even persecuted. But it is precisely in this
way in which we aim for our goal of salvation.

Following Christ is not and never will be easy, as it has enumerable
obstacles.

We
live in a country in which there is religious tolerance. But we know that
nowadays there is a persecution of Christians in 70 countries of the world. In
the twentieth century, every day about 1,250 Christians were killed about 460
thousand per year. So persecution has not ended. The world is struggling with
God and His followers all the time.

Despite this, Jesus has not changed his Gospel and He further reaffirms
its words with who ever follows Him and listens to His voice will change his
life dramatically.

Can I say that today the Lord is my Shepherd and I
shall not want?Is it true he is able to give me what I need to live in the
twenty-first century?Surely you can go to Christ by selectively choosing
what you want to hear. No, I am not able to face the world that tries at all
costs to create a false image of faith and the commandments for selfish
benefits. Where sin and evil ceases to be merely human weakness.

Many
times we hear that surely the church should move forward and be progressive on
a number of moral issues. That the church should be more open to man today
because we cannot live the same radical commandments as in the time of
Christ.

Yet, God clearly says that we have only to listen to His
voice and we will go a long way towards eternity.

Unfortunately, we cannot trust only our instincts and rely on our
experiences because we need a solid foundation upon which to live.

Yes,
some say that God is merciful and always ready to forgive.But what about
the man who with a life time of premeditation selects only those commandments
that are comfortable, easy to follow, that do not require sacrifices does
he deserve the mercy of God?

The
problem is that by selecting our own way we can never meet God who is ready to
forgive us.

And where do we stand?

On the
side of Jesus, or the hypocrisy of the world.?On the side of life or
death?Who do we listen to more?

Jesus,
who demands a lot from us, which might discourage us down the road? Or maybe the
promises of those who require little from us.

Following Christ we must always choose the path of man. An uphill path
where there will be an elevator or escalators which gives us the world. This way
we only need to move on with our Shepherd.Let us give Jesus the permission
to show us how to surrender to Him, for then, He will show us the way to
eternal life.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Simon, son of John, do you love me? You know everything, you
know that I love YOU - Peter responded.

Certainly, if Jesus asked today - Do you love me? Our answer
would be the same: Lord you know everything you know I love you.

And there is a lot of truth in that.

Our presence here in the church is a public profession of
our love for God. Our prayer, our fraternal help for another person and to
trust our attempts, also confirms this.

Why does God, from time to time, ask us to love Him?

Not like Peter three times, but through whole of our live?

Is once not enough?

It appears that not.

We are people who often fall in love. We fall in love with
another person, fall in love with our talents, fall in love with whatever we
have. Normally, we would not change our lives but for a loved one we sacrifice
everything. Time, skills, money. Silently counting on this love, to be returned
to us as a reciprocated love.

When our love is not understood by another and not
reciprocated, we pull back. Very often we give up too early, because we see
that it was not love but infatuation. Then we fall into gloom, and despair and
ask ourselves - why does the other person not see our love?

A similar situation may occur in our relationship with God.

Many of us can confirm our love and devotion to God.
Especially in the solemn moments of our lives: when we receive the sacraments, in
the solemn moments of the liturgy of the church.

How strong is our love and faith at Christmas and Easter?

How strong we feel when we have faith that God hears our
prayers and they impact our life as we want them to? When we are not missing anything, when we
are happy because our children are our friends, we call out ..."God loves
us".

But the situations in our life do not look so colorful when
we start to doubt whether in fact we are
loved very much by beloved Father.

Are we sure He sees our efforts?

St. Peter affirmed his love for Jesus and for this love he
was paid by death.

Well we know that love very often requires sacrifices. We
can only say after years if it was a great and lasting love. Only when we
decide to commit to someone can we see the everyday reality of life to be able
to overcome the problems and to be able to say I love you, I love you now, I
love you still and I will not stop loving you.

Our God is asking from time to time for our love for Him. He
wants to eliminate our temporary fascination with love. While waiting for our
answer, He wants to be treated exactly the same as those which we love.

People with whom we live and for whom we are able to devote
our lives. Do not expect flowers, gifts, and other examples of love from God,
for when we begin to live with Him, as in our common everyday life we affirm
our words..."Lord you know that I love You."

Monday, April 08, 2013

When
the angel came to Mary, she certainly felt in her heart great anxiety. An
unknown creature talking to her about things that she never would have expected.
Her answer and consent to the plan of God had to be a big puzzle and had to be
questionable.

We can
only imagine what Mary felt, and thought. But on the other hand, how great must
have been the faith of this woman, completely resigned to their plans, to keep
the promise made to somebody who loves you. Somebody who is thinking humanly,
shattered her life and erected a very difficult job to do.

How
great had to be her humility because from that moment nothing mattered to her
but a human desire to fulfill God's plan.

How
great must have been this love since the threshold of her adult life reigned
from the beautiful flesh of human love and spiritual love, she devoted
herself to her God. These are the effects of total entrustment to God of
life.When today we are faced with the mystery of the Annunciation we want
to settle accounts with our attachment to God's plans.

How many times have
we promised entire confidence and to give our life to Him? But, as a result it
turns out that we can not do that. It looks a little as if, that life goes its
own path and our own faith also .Often we think that God is not able to
guarantee our everyday existence.

Is it possible today that a man can give
himself completely to God? Seems not.We have too much to lose.

When
we look at the life stories of people who have said yes to God, we see they left
everything and started a new life.Can we afford such a gesture?

You do
not have to wait long for an answer because the heart tells us - I am afraid.
We can not endlessly promise God something we can not do or what we are not yet
ready to do. Looking at Mary I admire her and I think that not many of us would
have survived, and I ask that she help us during our lives to prepare for such
a gesture. It helps us to evaluate ourself and see how far we are from God and
His plans for us.And FIAT let her quiet holiness slowly but surely prepare
our souls so that when the day comes, we will want to return to God, to do
his will and sing "God I come to do Your will"

Sunday, April 07, 2013

Over the last 9 days, the church has been preparing for todays feast....Divine Mercy Sunday, established by Pope John Paul 2nd.

This Sunday we open our hearts to the healing action of the love of God. None of us can say that,.. "I do not need Mercy."

Very often we learn in the media about disasters, and their victims. However, as it turns out, the more information we get the more we become immune. Yes, we can afford gestures of solidarity, and as a gesture of Mercy, we say we can afford to help the victims materially. But, what good is all this if we have a closed heart? It probably has nothing to do with the Mercy that God offers us. For Mercy, which God wants to teach us, is opening up to the man in need, the spiritually blind, the depressed, and those seeking only love.
This opening will also help us find each other, and, as Francis, our Holy Father said at the beginning of his Pontificate,.... to believe that God will never tire of forgiveness. The problem is that it must parallel our asking Him for forgiveness. We are able to become people of Mercy but only with God's help.

We understand God's Mercy only.... when our lives of charity will be visible. We will be merciful only.... if it is a Mercy for us, asked by the whole world. We do not doubt the fact that we can be merciful. Sister Faustina wrote: The biggest sinner can become a saint, because of the greatness in the power of God's grace. It depends on us not to resist the action of God.

Pope Francis said: "Only someone who has experienced Mercy , who has suffered a tender caress of Mercy is happy before God."

Today, let us hear the following words which Sister Faustina once heard: "Try to see to it that everybody after meeting with us, can go away happy. Spread the "smell" of happiness around you, even if they can only touch your robes. Remember well these words, which at this moment I am speaking to you."

Perhaps many of us lack the strength for our everyday life. The problems are getting heavier. Maybe we cannot cope with the problems. Maybe we should stop to think about God as a loving Father. Maybe we do not believe in His help and forgiveness. This day is just for you....Time to trust in Jesus...Time to believe in the impossible. This, together with St. Thomas we say: "My Lord and My God."

Sisters and brothers, believe in the words spoken to Sister Faustina: "I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, especially for poor sinners. Believe in the incredible power of these beautiful words: "Jesus, I Trust in You."

Jesus, we trust that our community will be a true family in which we will learn that Mercy. A Mercy we will experience and share.

Homily from Father Joseph Pellegrino http://www.st.ignatius.net/pastor.html 21 Ordinary Time Faith is a choice - Choices and the Onl...

Divine Mercy Chaplet

Opening PrayerYou expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed for souls, and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon us.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us. I trust in You!________________________________________1. Begin with the• Sign of the Cross,• 1 Our Father,• 1 Hail Mary• The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with(three times):Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Closing PrayerEternal God, in whom Mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen

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“I solemnly urge you:proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.” (2 Tim 4,1-5)

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How to pray

How to pray the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy:

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

JESUS, WE TRUST IN YOU!

Optional Closing Prayer:

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.